Air-lift separator-pump



0 M. PRUITT. AIR LIFT SEPARATOR PUMP. APPLICATION FILED JULY 19,191].

Reissud Aug. 24, 1920.

IIYVE/YTOIE 0m MPEU/TT Arr-Tamers ,UNITEDTSTATES, PATENT OFFICE,

ORAN M. PRUITT, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO INDIANA AIR PUMPCOMPANY, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA,

A coRPona'r oN OF INDIANA.

AIR-LIFT SEPARATOR-PUMP.

14,937. Original No. 1,214,951, dated useful Air-Lift ep'arator-Pump, ofwhich the following is a specification.

In the operation of airlift pumps, it is sometimes'desirable to use theWater directly in, a closed system, or to send it directly intocondensing or cooling coils, or to move the water horizontally a ter ithas been raised to the ground level and then to raise the I water stillhigher into the-desired reservoir;

and in all these cases to obtaina steady .stream. Itis very necessary,however, first to remove theair from the water in order to do thesethings, as otherwise the air and water will separate later and the flowof the water will be greatly interfered with. It has already beenproposed to separate the air from the water at the top of the well bymeans of a separating chamber, by which the pressure of theseparated airis utilized to force the water on into the associated tem. Theaccumulated air in this separating chamber must be allowed to escape asit accumulates, so as to maintain the proper pressure and properwaterlevel therein and a constant flow of water therefrom.

It is the object ofmy invention to provide means for controlling boththe escape of air and water from such a'se'parating chamber,

whereby a constant stream of alr-free-water the associated system.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my is supplied from suchseparatingchamber to invention. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a wellhaving an air-lift separator pump, embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is anenlarged vertical sectional view of the separator; and Fig. 3 is anenlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

At a suitable depth within the well casing 10 is located the airliftpump 11 of any suitable type, which airlift pump receives water fromwithin the well casing 10, and receives air from an lair-supply 'pipe-12 supplied from a reservoir 13 in which the pressure is maintained by'-any suitable compressor 14.

The mixture of air and" water produced within the pump 11 rises by theeduction chamber 16, the eduction pipe '15 preferfrom the eduction pipe1-5 allowing the water sys- lower end into pipe 15 and is dischargedinto a separatingably extending through the bottomof the separatlngchamber and well up into it and being' covered by a suitable umbrella orSpecification of Reissued Letters latent. Ri sued A g. 24 1920 Imushroom plate '17 with sides 17" overhanging the upper end of theeduction pipe 15 so as to'deflect downward the water discharged andallow the escape of the air from such water, the mush room plate 17 andthe perforations in the depending sides l7 assisting in the separatlonof air and water, and the perforations I to escape from within theperforated sides 17 more freely, so as to steady the level of the waterin the separatmg chamber '16. A water discharge pipelS projects into thechamber -16, preferably through the bottom thereof, and may be carriedhorizontally to any desired point and then turned upward to dischargeinto any suitable system,here a suitable reservoir 19, as clear from'Fig. 1. The intake end of the water discharge pipe 18 within the casing16 is located within a cylinder or bell 20, which at t e bottom isprovided with inlet openings 21, preferably widerat the top than at thebottom, as shown in Fig. 2.

A cut-off ring 22'has a sliding fit on the cylinder 20 and is carried byan annularfloat 23 surrounding such cylinder, so that such cut-off ringrises; and falls with the water level wlthin the casing l6 and closes toa greater or less degree the openings 21 as the Watenlevel in suchcasing falls, so as to diminish the size of the outlet openings.when*the pressure above the'water in the casing 16 (by which pressurethe Water level is depressed) increases, thus tending' to maintain theoutflowing stream iii-.ioughthe pipe 18 constant.

A hollow cylindrical shell 2 is mounted on the top of the casing 16, byan air-tight mounting, and preferably has a conical botdown within thecasing 16 to a point below the lowest water level therein. is providedat one side with an upwardly extending passage 27 outside the main body16 and at'its upper enddischarges by a passage 28 leading tangentiallyinto the shell 25 at its upper end. A pipe 29 projects axially into theshell 25 from the top, preferably nearly to the bottom of such shell 25,

tom which leads into a pipe projecting The shell 25 ,of such shell,which passage 27*o pens at its the-upper part of the casing andisprovided with a control valve 30 through whichit leads to the airescape .pIi pe 31, in which is a control valve 32. aair from within theupper part of the casing 16, mixed with whatever water it .stillcarries, passes up through the chamber 27 and is discharged by thepassage 28 tangentially within the shell 25, and circulates in-adescendin water it still carries, the air coming to the center and thewater to the outside. The

air then escapes through the pipe 29, While the water returns throughthe-pipe 26 into thecasing 16. The escape j of air 1S'COI1- trolled bythe valve 30, which is regulated to maintain the water level within thecasing lower end of the pipe 29 and above the pipe 16 at the desiredpoint. This normally maintains the air pressure within the cas"lfi'substantiall constant, and the water leve therein at a su stantiallyfixed point. However, if the air pressure increases and the water level,therefore, falls,- the float 23 descends and-partly closes the openings21 so as to maintain the stream of water passing through the pipe 18substantially constant .in spite of such variation in air pressureandwaterlevel. In order to prevent an increase 30 of ressure within theseparatin chamber 16 rom through the pipes 29 and 31, a deflecting plate33'is provided in the shell 25 below the 26 and conveniently supportedby s aced arms 34 from the walls ofs aid shell; f water is shot up fromthe pipe 26, it strikes the deflecting plate 33 and is'prevented therebyfrom entering. the pipe 29. I

To supplement the air escape through the pipe 29 when necessary, Iprovide a vertical afloat-operated slide'valve, comprising an outercasing 35 which' communicates through an opening 36 with the upperpart.of the space within the casing 16, an annular jacket 37 around suchcasing 35 at the upper end thereof to provide therewith an annular space38 which is connected by ports 39 with the interior of the casing 35,and a hollow vertically slidingl member 40 connected by a rod '41passing t rough the hole 36 to" a float 42 within the casing-16. Thehollow sliding member 40 is unperforated at its lower porair escape pipe31.'

If desired, the air escape pipe may be con nected by an overflow pipe 46to the interior of the well casing 10, so that in case any wahelixwithin such shell. 'The'centrifuga action of this helical -motionproduoesa separation of the air from, whatever causing a sudden rush 0water up ter is carried up into saidair escape pipe, as sometlmeshappens, such water will over flow back into the well and willnotes'cape on to the surrounding grounder floor.- This pipe 46 is openedor closed by means of "a flow into the well, the valve 32 may be partlyor' wholly closed, when partly closed permitting air to escape throughthe pipe 31-into the atmosphere but preventing any rush of waterthroughout the pipe 31.' r a f valve 30'. In order to compel such waterto In operation, the compressor 14 main-m tains the desired air pressurewithin the reservoir 13 from which air is withdrawn through the pipe '12and discharged through the airlift pump 11,-which causes the'miX-- tureof air and water to rise through the eduction pipe 15 in the usuamanner. This mixture of air and water is discharged from the topof theeduction pipe 15 against the 7 s5 under side of the mushroom plate or um,b'rella 17, which partly separatesthe air and water, deflecting thewater downward to the bottom of the chamber 16 and allowing theair toescape through the holes in the depending sides of such mushroom plate.The air accumulates in the upper part of the chamber 16', and the waterin the lower part, and the pressure of the air forces the water throughthe slots 21 and upward within the cylinder 20 and over the top of theintake end of the pipe 18,-and along such pipe horizontally and thenvertically into' the reservoir 1 9 or elsewhere. The air in the upperpart of the chamber 16 still may carry considerable water, and this airpasses up through the passage, 27

and is discharged therefrom through the opening 28 tangentially withinthe shell 25,

'wherein it circulates in a descending helix to' throw'to the outside,any water itstill carries and bring the air to the inside, the waterreturning through the pipe 26 into the chamber 16 and the air escapingthrough the pipe 29, valve 30,- and pipe 31 into the atmosphere orthrough-thepipe 46 into the well casing. The valve 30 is adsufiicientlyrapidly vto maintain the water levelwithin the casing 16 at the desiredpoint; If for any reason this valve-30 does not-allow the air to escapefrom the chamber 26 with sufiicient rapidity, the water .level withinsuch chamber falls and the jus'ted to allow air normally to escape justfloats 23, and 42. descend. The descentof .1

the .float' 23 causes the cut-off ring 22 to ,close partially the slots21, so as to diminish the outlet area into-the pipe 18 and thuscompensate by decreasing such outlet area for the increase in airpressure so asto mamtain the stream of water discharged 1 throughthepipe l8 substantially constant.

If the water level in the chamber 16 continues to fall, the descent ofthe float 42 causes the slide valve 40 to produce registry l -an airliftpump separating chamber into which said eduction through. v

of the openings 43 and 39. so as to permit a supplemental escape of airthrough such slide valve and pipe 44 and valve 45, Normally, the slidevalvelO is closed, and only comes into play as a supplemental airescapemeans when the air escaping through the valve is not sufiicie'nt-inamount and the cut-off ring 22 has partially closed the slots 21. If theair escapes too rapidly the floats 23 and 42 rise and the reverse of theforegoing regulation takes place. In case any water is carried up eitherthrough the pipe 29 orthe carried back'through the pipe 46 into the pipe44 into the pipe 31, it is well.

f Asa result of j-my arrangement, the stream of water discharged throughthe pipe 18 may be maintained substantially constant and substantiallyair-free.

' Sometimes, however, the separation of 4 the air from the water isnotentirely complete when the water enters through the slots 21,- sothatsome air is carried with-the water into the cylinder '20, this .air,though small in amount, might separate lf-rom'Ythe water within thecylinder 20, and collect at the top'of such'cylindeig-and in the course,

- a 'of time might make the system airbound.

In order to prevent this, cook 50 which connectsthe upper end of thecylinder 20 with the at I provide a pet space within the mosphere, so asto provide a restricted escape vent for any air which may collect.

By proper adjustmentof the pet cook 50,-

anyair which collects in the cylinder 20 may be permitted to escapewhile the vent is sufiiciently restricted so as to prevent any materialamount of water from passing I claim as myinvention: Y 1 1. An airliftseparator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an educti-on pipe, aseparating chamber into which said eduction 4 pipe discharges, said.separating chamber having an outlet for permitting escape of air fromthe-u per part thereof,-a water outflow pipe lead a float-controlledvalve controlling the'inlet' to 'said'water-outflow pipe, saidfloat-controlled valve moving toward open and closed positions upon riseand fall respectively of the water level in said separating chamber.

ing from said chamber, and

2. An airlift separator pump, comprising having an eduction pipe, a

pipe discharges, said. separating chamber having an outlet for,permittingescape of air from the upper part thereof, a water outflowpipe leading from said chamber, and a float-controlled valve controllingthe inlet to said water-outflow pipe.

3. An airliftsepar'ator. pump, comprising an'airlift pump having an'eduction ipe, a,

separating chamber into which said e uction pipe discharges, saidseparating chamber air-escape pipe;

having an outlet for permitting escape of air from the upper partthereof, a water outflow pipe having its intake end projecting upwardinto said separating chamber, a bell surrounding the intake end of saidwateroutflow pipe, said bell being providedwith a atthe bottom,

' water-admitting slot wider atthe top than a cut-01f ring slidable onsaidbell to variably open and close said slot, and

a float'carrying said cut-off ring and movable upon changeinwater levelin said se arating chamber to varythe position of said" 4. I An airliftseparator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a

. separating chamber into which said edu'ction pipe. discharges, saidseparating chamber having an outlet for perm tting escape of air fromthe upperpart thereof, a water-outflow I pipe having its intake endprojecting up .ward into said separating chamber, a bell surrounding theintake end of said water.- outflow pipe, said bell being rovided with awater admitting slot, a cut-o ring slidable.

and the efiective'size of opening on said bell to variably-open andclose said slot, and aj-float carrying said cut-oil ring f and movableupon change; in waterlevel in said separating chamberto vary theposition of said cut-ofi'ring' and the efiective-size' of opening ofsaid slot.

5. An airlift separator-pump, comprising an airlift pump having aneductionplpe, a separating chamber into which said eduction pipedischarges, a water-outflow-pipe lead-' ing from said chamber, a shellmounted on the top of said separating chamber and havingawater-returnpipe leading therefrom intosaid separating chamber" below the minimumwater level therein and also having apassage leading from the top ofsaid separating chamber tangentially intothe upper part of said shell,an air-escape pipe projecting into the middle of said shell, and a valvecontrolling the efi'ective size of said 6. An airlift separating chamberinto which said eduction pipe discharges, -a water-outflow pipe leadingfrom said chamber,-a' shell mounted on the top of said separatingchamber and having "a water return pipe leading therefrom into saidseparating chamber below the minimum water level therein and alsohavseparator comprising an. airlift-pump having an eduction pipe, 'a

ing a passage leading from the 'top -o f said separating "chambertangentially into the upper'part of said shell, and anr'air-esca' e p peprojec'tinginto the middle of said she I.

7 An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift nump having aneduction ipe, a separating chamber into which said e uction. pipedischarges, a water-outflow pipe lead-. 'ing from said chamber,. saidseparating chamber having a primary air outlet-for allowing escape ofair from the upper part of said separating chamber, a manuallycontrolled valve controlling said primary air escape outlet, and saidseparating chamber also having a supplemental air-escape outlet forallowing escape of air from the upper part of said separating chamberunder abnormal conditions, and afloat-operated valve responsive (to thewater level in said separating chamber and controlling said supplementalair-escape outlet. 2

-8. An airlift separator pump,-comprising an airlift pump having aneduction pipe, a

separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, awateroutflow pipe. leading from said chamber, said separating chamberhaving a primary air outlet for allowing escape of air from the upperpart of said separating chamber, and also having a supplementalair-escape outlet .forallowing escape of air from the upper part. ofsaid separating chamber under abnormal condi= tions; and afloat-operatedvalve responsive to the water level in said separating chamber andcontrolling outlet.

9. An'air-lift separator pump, comprising said supplemental air-escapean airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a separating chamber into whichsaid eduction pipe discharges, a water-outflow pipe leading from saidchamber, said separating chamber having a primary air outlet forallowing the escape of air from the upper part'of said separatingchamber, and also having a supplemental air-escape outlet for allowingescape of air from the upper part. of said separating chamber underabnormal -con'(lit1ons, and a float-controlled valve responsive to thewater level in saidseparating chamber andcontrollingthe size of theinlet opening to said water-outflow pipe.

10. An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having aneduction pipe, a

' separator chamber into which said eduction ing pipe discharges, awater-outflow pipe leadfrom said chambergsaid separating chamber havinga primary air outlet for allowing escape of air from theupper part ofsaid separating chamber, and also having a supplemental air-escapeoutlet for allowing escape of air from the u per part of said separatingchamber un er abnormal conditions, a float-operated valve responsive tothe water level in said separating chamber and controlling saidsupplemental air escape outlet, and a float-controlled valve responsiveto the water level in said separating chamber and controlling the sizeof the inlet opening to said water-outflow pipe, 11. Anairlift separatorpump, comprising an'air-lift pump having an eduction pipe, a separatingchamber into 1 which said educ tion pipe discharges, a water-outflowpipe leading [from said chamber, a float controlledvalve controlling theescape of air area of said water outflow pipe.

from the tofp part of said separating chamher, and a oat-controlledvalve controlling the inlet to said water-outflow pipe, said two val vesoperating oppositely upon a vanation in the water level insaid-separating chamber.

12. An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having aneduction pipe, a

separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, awater-outflow pipe leading from said chamber, a float-controlled valvecontrolling the escape of air from the top part of said separatingchamber, and a floatecontrolled valve controlling the inlet to saidwater-outflow pipe;

13. An airlift separator pump, comprising v an airlift pump'liaving aneduction pipe, 2;

separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, awater-outflow pipe leading from said chamber, a float-controlled valvecontrolling the escape of'air from the top part of. saidseparatingchamb'er, and a float-controlled valve controlling the inletto said water-outflow pipe, saidfirst-named valve opening and saidsecond-namedvalve closing upon a fall in the water level in saidseparatin chamber. 14. An airli separator pump, comprising an airliftpump having. an eduction pipe, a separating chamber-into which saideduction pipe discharges, a water out-flow pipe on the topv of saidseparating chamber and having a water-return pipe leading therefrom intosaid separating chamber below the minimum water level thereon and alsohaving a passage leading from the topvof said separating chambertangentially into the upper part of said shell, an air-esca 'e pipeprojecting into the middle of. said she l, a valve controlling theeffective size of said air-escape pipe and a float-controlled valveresponsive to the water level in such separating chamber and controllingthe inlet leading fro m said chamber, a shell mounted 15.'An airliftseparator pump, comprising an airlift pum p having an eduction plpe, aseparating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, awater-outflow pipe leading from said chamber, a shell mounted on the topof said separating chamber and having a water-return pipe leadingtherefrom into said separating chamber below the minimum water leveltherein andalso h av-v ing a passage leadingv from-the top of saidseparating chamber tangentially into the upper part of said shell, anair-escape pipe projecting into themiddle of said shell, and afloat-controlled valve responsive to the water level in such separatingchamber and controlling the inlet. area of said water out- "16.Anairlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eductionpipe, at: "separating chamber into which said educ- 'tion pipedischarges, said separating chamber having an outletfor permitting theescape of air from the upper part thereof,-

a water outflow pipe leading from said chamber and having its inlet endprojecting upward into said chamber, a bell overhanging the. intake endof said ,water-outflow pipe, said bell being provided with a ventconnecting the interior of said bell with a point outside saidseparating chamber, and a valve controlling said vent. 17 An airliftseparator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, aseparating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, saidseparating cham-- "ber having an outlet for permitting the I escape ofair from the upper part thereof,

a water-outflow pipe leading from said chamber and having its inlet endprojecting upward into -said chamber, a bell overhanging the intake endof said water-outflow pipe, said bell being rovided with a ventconnecting the' interior of. said bell with a point outside saidseparating chamber.

18. In combination, a closedchamber, a

' pipe leading from a well into such chamber and opening intosaidchamber above the liquid level therein,'an air nozzle in such pipe belowsuch chamber, a pipe leading from such chamber and opening into suchchamber below the liquid leveltherein, a down-- wardly opening hoodlocated in said chamber and having its open end below the liquid leveltherein, said first namedvpipe discharging upwardly into said chamberand said last named pipe opening under said hood, said chamber having anair outlet opening therefrom which air outlet open-' ing communicateswith the chamber at a point higher than the liquid level therein, and amanually operated valve wholly controlling said'air outlet openingtopermit the escape of air from said chamber but to maintain a pressuregreater than atmosphere in said chamber,

19. In combination, a closed chamber, ,a pipe leading from a well anddischarging upwardly substantially vertically into such chamber,'an airnozzle in such pipe below such chamber, a pipe leading from suchchamber, a hood in'such chamber over the end of said last named pipe,said-hood having its lower .end open below the liquid level, in saidchamber and having itsup'per end closed, a container which is connectedto said last named pipe to receive the discharge therefrom, said chamberhaving an air outlet opening therefrom, which air outlet chamber andhaving its upper end closed day of July, 1917 opening communicates withthe chamber at a point higher than the liquid level therein, and amanually operated valve wholly controlling said air outlet opening topermit the escape of air from said chamber but to maintain a pressuregreater than atmos- Iphere in said chamber.

20. In combination, a closed chamber, a pipe leading from a well intosuch chamber,

an air nozzle in such pipe below such chains ber, a pipe leading fromsuch chamber, a

hood in said chamber over the end of s'aid last named pipe, said hoodhaving its-lower end open below 'the liquid level in said said chamberhaving an air outlet opening therefrom which air outlet openingcommunicates with the chamber at a point higherthan the liquid leveltherein, and a manually operated valve wholly controlling said airoutlet'opening to permit the escape of air from said chamber but tomaintain a pressure greater than atmosphere in said chamber.

21. In combination, a closed chamber, a pipe leading from a well intosuch chamber,

an air nozzle in such pipe below such chamber, a pipeleading from suchchamber and opening into the main space within the chamber below theliquid level therein and by a passageway which carries the liquid fromthe chamber first upward and then downward, said chamber having an airoutlet opening therefrom which air outlet opening communicates with thechamber at a point higher than the liquid level therein, and a manuallyoperated, valve wholly controlling said air outlet openingto permit theescape-of air from said-'chamberbut to maintain a pressure .greater thanatmosphere in said chamber.

22. In combination, a closed chamber, a

pipe leading from a well into such chamber,

an air nozzle in such pipe below such cham- 'ber, a pipe leading fromsuch chamber and opening into the main space within the chamber belowthe liquid level therein, said chamber having an air outlet openingtherefrom which air'outlet opening communicates with the chamber at apoint higher than the liquid level therein, and a manually operatedvalve wholly controlling said air outlet opening to permitthe escape ofair from said chamber but to maintain a pressure greater than atmospherein said chamber.

Inwitness whereof, I- have hereunto set my hand, at Indianapolis,Indiana, this 3rd ORAN M; PRUITT.

